Karzai, PM to inaugurate Afghan Regl Econ Coop Conf on Nov 18

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who arrived in India today, is scheduled to jointly inaugurate the Second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan on November 18, along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

President Karzai, who is accompanied by over a dozen Cabinet Ministers and Ministerial-level advisers, in addition to members of the country's National Assembly, officials and a high-level business delegation, will visit Shimla and Delhi.

Here, he will call on the President A P J Abdul Kalam, and hold talks with Dr Singh on Friday, in addition to meetings with other dignitaries.

Apart from the Conference, President Karzai will address the concluding session of the Regional Business Conference on Afghanistan, jointly being hosted by FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM and Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) on Saturday He will also be the chief guest at the Inaugural ceremony of the Inter-disciplinary Conference on the theme, ''Scientific Upgrading of the Ecological and Livelihood Security Systems of Arid and Semi-Arid Areas'' being organised by National Academy of Agricultural Sciences on Sunday.

In addition, President Kalam will confer the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on President Karzai on Sunday.

President Karzai had earlier visited India in February 2002 as Chairman of Interim Administration, in March 2003 as President of Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and in February 2005 and April this year after being elected President.

Today, the Afghan President visited his alma mater in Shimla, and reminisced about his days as a student at the Himachal Pradesh University.

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